Pain Free Birth

What if the birth that broke your heart didn’t have to be the end of your story?
After preparing for a natural birth with her first baby, Stephanie Andrade found herself transferring from a birth center to the hospital, receiving Pitocin, and eventually having an emergency cesarean. Although there were moments of peace and God’s presence throughout the experience, Stephanie was left processing disappointment, trauma, and questions about what future births might look like.
When she became pregnant again, Stephanie knew she wanted to approach birth differently. She researched her options, communicated clearly with her midwife, learned to advocate for her preferences, and ultimately surrendered the outcome to God. What followed was something she never expected. Instead of making it to the hospital for her planned VBAC, Stephanie gave birth at home with only her husband present. Her labor was fast, instinctive, and pain-free, and her body pushed her baby out without conscious pushing.
Tune in to hear:
How Stephanie’s first birth went from a peaceful birth center labor to an emergency C-section
Why learning she had reached 10 centimeters during her first labor mattered when preparing for her VBAC
How Stephanie processed the emotional impact of her cesarean
The fears she faced while preparing to give birth after a C-section
Why surrendering the outcome to God became a turning point in her pregnancy
How she approached informed consent and hospital VBAC protocols differently the second time
Why communicating clear preferences with your birth team matters
How Stephanie prepared to advocate for herself during labor
Why she didn’t realize how far into labor she actually was
The moment a shower turned into an unexpected home birth
What it felt like when her body pushed her baby out without conscious effort
Why Stephanie experienced intense pressure, but no ring of fire
How understanding birth physiology helped her stay grounded as her baby was born
The dramatic difference between her cesarean recovery and natural postpartum recovery
Stephanie’s encouragement for women hoping for a redemptive birth after a difficult or traumatic experience
Connect with Stephanie:
Instagram: @stephreneeandrade
Doors are open for the Doula Certification Program. Grab your spot HERE.
CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE
Submit Your Birth Story
Apply to Come on the Podcast
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Looking for a like-minded provider? View the PFB Directory HERE.
Want to join the directory? JOIN HERE
Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual health, pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Pain F...

What happens when the peaceful home birth you planned suddenly becomes a hospital twin birth, and you still deeply desire a physiological, unmedicated experience?
After two beautiful home births, Siera Asivido fully expected to welcome her third baby the same way. Then, at her 20-week anatomy scan, she saw two heads on the ultrasound screen. She was carrying spontaneous di/di twins, and suddenly the birth environment where she felt safest was no longer an option with her trusted midwife.
Instead of giving up on the birth she desired, Siera began learning how to advocate for herself. She created an intentional birth plan, learned how to communicate informed decisions to her OB team, declined routine hospital practices that did not align with her goals, and prepared both practically and spiritually for birth. At 39 weeks and 1 day, she walked into the hospital in early labor and experienced a peaceful, physiological twin birth that exceeded what she imagined was possible.
Tune in to hear:
The shocking moment Siera discovered at 20 weeks that she was carrying twins
Why losing the option of another home birth required a real grieving process
How she navigated hospital policies while still pursuing a physiological twin birth
The one-page birth plan that helped her clearly communicate her values and informed decisions
How reading her birth plan aloud helped Siera find her voice and advocate with confidence
Why she chose to decline the operating room unless a C-section became medically necessary
How prayer and birth affirmations helped her move from fear into trust and surrender
What happened when she arrived at the hospital at 39 weeks and 1 day with twins
How her body became so relaxed during transition that her midwife thought she was sleeping
The unexpected complication with Baby B, including a nuchal cord wrapped five times, and how Siera adapted without losing her sense of empowerment
Pain Free Birth Episode #66 on Advocacy with Intentional Birth
Connect with Siera:
Instagram - @sieraasivido
Siera's Birthplan: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oCFFQMW2ibTPsbjqc_0hFxLGyB2ugHIl?usp=sharing
Doors are open for the Doula Certification Program. Grab your spot HERE.
CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE
Submit Your Birth Story
Apply to Come on the Podcast
Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Looking for a like-minded provider? View the PFB Directory HERE.
Want to join the directory? JOIN HERE
Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual health, pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Pain F...

Have you ever felt a tug toward birth work, but immediately wondered how becoming a doula could possibly fit into your real life?
Maybe you have little kids at home, a full-time job, a husband who is not completely on board, or no idea how you would find your first doula client. Maybe you love birth and supporting women, but the thought of putting yourself out there feels terrifying. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it actually takes to become a birth doula and answering the questions that might be keeping you from taking that next step.
After 13 years of doula work, I’ve learned that becoming a doula does not require having your entire life perfectly figured out. We’re talking about practical solutions for childcare, balancing birth work with motherhood or another career, getting your first clients, navigating difficult births, building confidence, and creating a doula business that works for your life. I’m also sharing what we’ve completely rebuilt inside the Pain-Free Birth Doula Certification Program and why community, mentorship, business training, and ongoing support matter so much when you step into birth work.
Questions Answered in This Episode:
How do you know if your called to doula work - and where do you start?
How do you make childcare work as a doula?
What if your husband or partner isn’t supportive?
How do you get over imposter syndrome and the fear of being seen?
How do you find clients when you’re just starting out?
Is the doula industry already oversaturated - and how do you stand out?
Can you become a doula if you’ve never given birth yourself?
How do you prepare for hard or traumatic births?
What if your not experienced or qualified enough?
Doors are open for the Doula Certification Program. Grab your spot HERE.
CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE
Submit Your Birth Story
Apply to Come on the Podcast
Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Looking for a like-minded provider? View the PFB Directory HERE.
Want to join the directory? JOIN HERE
Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual health, pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Pain F...

What if the birth that changed everything was not your first birth, but the one that finally showed you what birth could be?
In this deeply personal episode of the Pain Free Birth Podcast, Karen sits down with someone very special to the Pain Free Birth family, her personal assistant, Jamie Bennett. After two difficult hospital births, including an epidural she did not originally want and a completely failed epidural during her second labor, Jamie entered her third pregnancy knowing something needed to change. Her search for truly aligned care eventually led her somewhere she never expected, a home birth.
Jamie shares how that redemptive, euphoric home birth transformed far more than the way she viewed birth. It strengthened her faith, changed the way she approached motherhood, taught her to stop asking permission, and ultimately led her into her calling as a doula. Now, after years of working behind the scenes at Pain Free Birth and reading countless birth stories, Jamie is stepping into birth rooms herself and helping other women discover how supported, informed, and empowered birth can be.
Tune in to hear:
How Jamie’s first two difficult hospital births shaped the way she viewed birth and support
What happened when her epidural completely failed during her second birth
Why interviewing your provider and choosing an aligned birth team matters
How Jamie went from being afraid of home birth to choosing it for her third baby
The simple words from her midwife that changed the entire direction of her labor
How her joyful, redemptive home birth transformed her confidence, motherhood, and faith
Why Jamie believes our hardest birth experiences can ultimately prepare us to help others
How her own birth journey led her to answer the calling to become a doula
How Jamie booked four births within her first two months as a new doula
Her encouragement for women who feel called to birth work but are afraid to take the first step 
Questions to Ask Your Provider: https://resources.painfreebirth.com/birth-provider-questions 
CONNECT WITH JAMIE:
Instagram: @birthwithjamie
Doors are open for the Doula Certification Program. Grab your spot HERE.
CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE
Submit Your Birth Story
Apply to Come on the Podcast
Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Looking for a like-minded provider? View the PFB Directory HERE.
Want to join the directory? JOIN HERE
Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual health, pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Pain F...

What if being told you have a “big baby” creates more fear than the actual size of your baby ever needed to?
If you have been told your baby is measuring large, your hips might be too small, or you should consider an induction because of suspected macrosomia, this episode is for you. We are unpacking the fear surrounding big babies and talking about what the evidence actually says about fetal size, late-pregnancy estimates, induction, shoulder dystocia, and cesarean birth.
You will also learn why the way your body and baby move during birth matters so much. From the flexibility of the pelvis and molding of your baby’s head to positioning, breathing, pelvic floor relaxation, and upright pushing positions, this conversation will help you look beyond a number on an ultrasound and better understand the physiology of birth. Most importantly, you will walk away with questions you can bring to your provider so you can make informed decisions that feel right for you and your baby. 
Tune in to hear:
 What macrosomia means and why a suspected big baby can create so much fear 
 Why late-pregnancy estimates of fetal weight are not the same thing as knowing your baby’s actual birth weight 
 The primary concern providers have about large babies and shoulder dystocia 
 Why suspected fetal size can influence the way labor and birth are managed 
 How fear and doubt can affect tension, relaxation, and the experience of labor 
 Why your baby’s position may matter enormously during pushing 
 How your pelvis is designed to move during birth 
 How your baby’s skull molds as your baby travels through the birth canal 
 Why relaxing and yielding the pelvic floor is different from forcefully pushing against it 
 How upright and hands-and-knees positions can give the pelvis more freedom to move 
 What the Gaskin and McRoberts maneuvers are in the context of shoulder dystocia 
 Questions to ask your OB or midwife if your baby is suspected to be large 
 Why learning physiological pushing techniques before labor can change your birth experience 
 How to replace fear-based decision-making with education, informed consent, and confidence in your options 
Evidence Based Birth Article: EvidencebasedbirthWhat is the Evidence for Induction or C-section for a Big Baby?

Doors are open for the Doula Certification Program. Grab your spot HERE.
CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE
Submit Your Birth Story
Apply to Come on the Podcast
Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Looking for a like-minded provider? View the PFB Directory HERE.
Want to join the directory? JOIN HERE
Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual health, pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Pain F...